Five dead, 27 injured in bus explosion in Volgograd region

Findings suggest use of explosive device: blast classified as a terrorist act

Share

1 pages in this article

Photo mchs.gov.ru

MOSCOW, October 21. (Itar-Tass) - Five people died and 27 were inujured after an explosion of a bus in Volgograd region, according to the press service of the Volgograd region head office of the Interior Ministry.

Initially southern District Emergency Ministry press service told Itar-Tass that five people died and seven were injured.

Explosive device

“At 2:05pm Moscow time an explosion went off in a passenger bus in Krasnoarmeysk district of the city,” the spokesperson said. An crisis center was established, investigation is underway.

Press service of the Volgograd region head office of the Interior Ministry initially said that there was no criminal intent: “according to preliminary data, gas equipment exploded.”

Meanwhile, a law enforcement source told Itar-Tass that an explosive device went off, it’s type and power are being determined.

Initially, a criminal investigation with “murder” classification has been opened; a representative of the Investigative Committee said it may later be reclassified into another crime.

After further inspection the incident was re-classified as a terrorist act.

A spokesman for the Russian Investigation Committee, Vladimir Markin, told Itar-Tass on Monday that criminal proceedings had been initiated on three charges: a terrorist act, a murder of two and more people and illegal trade in weapons and explosives.

The Information Center of the National Antiterrorist Committee later confirmed detonation of an explosive device on board of the bus.

Its representative said: "The crisis center coordinates emergency response services, law enformcent agencies and security services in order to prevent potential follow-up explosions and organize administrative, operative and investigative activities."

Medical assistance

The condition of 10 people, who have been injured in the explosion, is considered severe, spokeswoman to the Emergency Situations Ministry Irina Rossius told Itar-Tass.

“Eight people are now at the intensive care unit,” she said, adding that doctors inspected another seven injured persons on the spot.

Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry is ready to send an aircraft to Volgograd to evacuate those who have been injured in the bus explosion in Volgograd, Rossius stated.

“The Il-76 plane, which is equipped with a medical module, is ready to leave for Volgograd if it necessary. A decision will be taken due to medical conditions,” the spokeswoman said.